Be Humble to Max Out!

Recently, FCA-Nebraska hosted the Big Sky Pole Vault camp with Kearney HS(NE) vault coach Bob Talbitzer and vaulting great Pat Manson as our head camp clinicians. Pat is a great friend of mine who happens to still hold the high school American indoor record for vault at 17'6 1/2"! In fact, he vaulted 18' outdoors when he was still in high school. Pat holds the world record for number of consecutive years over 18 feet, having gone that high 22 years in a row!!

Pat attended Kansas University to vault for coaching legend Rick Attig. When he got there, the first thing Coach Attig told him was that if Pat wanted to really max out all of his God-given ability, he would need to change the mechanics to his vaulting technique. Wow, was that ever a blow to the pride in Pat! He's got the national high school record, is one of the best vaulters in the nation at any level right now and coach is telling him his form is not good enough!

But God was working in Pat's life. His best friend from high school had just become a Christian and God was using this friendship to soften and prepare Pat for things to come. Though he didn't know it yet, God was helping Pat begin to understand the importance of humility as the true measure of greatness. 1 Peter 5:6 says, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may lift you up at the proper time."

Pat humbled himself under God and under the instruction of his coach. He put off the pride of his flesh and put on the humility of Christ in order to learn obedience. And in due time, that obedience paid off. Pat went on to a great collegiate and professional vaulting career and ended with a personal best of 19' 2 1/2". Most importantly, his humble heart came to see his need for Jesus Christ as His Savior and Lord. Scripture tells us that God dwells with the humble in heart. Take time today to practice humility by learning to listen to people that God puts in your life like coaches and teachers. He will lift you up in due time!

Chris Bubak - FCA-Nebraska State Director